Air-lift system



Patented July 26, 1921.

aii 7 ing to vunder pressure UNITED STATES JOHN OLIPHANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY,

A CORPORATION O]! MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR-LIFT SYSTEM.

To all who-mz'tmay concern: 3

Be it known that I, JOHN OLIPHANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi, cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Lift Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to air-lift systems.

It has for its object to provide an improved air-lift system whereby a constant flow of fluid may be maintained and where by the available back pressure for deliverthe line the fluid pumped may be readily and conveniently adjusted from the exterior of the booster. A more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved booster adapted to use in such a system, the said booster being provided with improved means for preventing surging and insuring a constant fluid flow, and improved means for adjusting the back pressure exerted on the fluid therein, as well as improved means forremoving the several parts inclosed within the booster casing.

In the accompanying drawings, I have for purposes of illustration shown one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a system embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the booster.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the booster taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of the booster taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

In the illustrative construction shown, a compressor 1 of any suitable design has its discharge connected through a pipe 2 to a receiver 3, and this receiver is in turn connected through a pipe 4 with the down-pipe 5 of the air-lift mechanism. This pipe extends into the well 6 and delivers air to the usual foot-piece 7 in such a manner that a mixture of air an water or other'fluid is forced up through the pipe,8 into the booster 9, by which the air is then separated from'the water or other fluid and the latter expelled downward and outward through the line 10.

As shown, the mixture rising through the pipe 8 enters thebooster 9 through an upstanding sleeve 11 which communicates with Specification of Letters Patent.

d on a plate 32 disposed over a Patented July 26', 1921.

Application filed October 7, 1916. Serial No. 124,400.

the pipe 8 and has a lower flange 12 thereon by which this sleeve is removably attached. to the bottom of the booster through suitable screws 13. As illustrated, a clamping ring 14, preferably threaded at 15 to receive the upper end of the pipe 8, is also preferably attached to the flange 12 by suitable screws 16. As the mixture of air and water or other fluid passes out of the sleeve 11, it strikes an umbrella top 17, preferably of the flanged and conical type shown, suitably attached to the top of the booster 9 and is deflected thereby, the water passing downward into the bottom of the booster casing at one side of a transversely disposed baffleplate 18 which, as shown, extends from a point near the top of the booster 9 to a point a greater distance above the bottom thereof. The water then passes under this baflle-plate 18 'and up on the other side of the same through suitable vertically disposed slots 19 in an upstanding sleeve 20. As shown, this sleeve also preferably hasv a lower flange 21 thereon WlllCh is fixed to the bottom of the casing 9 by screws 22 and, as in the case of the flange 12, also carries by screws 23 a ring 24, threaded at 25 toreceive the end of the pipe 10. Carried upon the upper end of this sleeve 20 is also another sleeve 26 of greater diameter which extends almost to the top of the booster casing. As shown, this sleeve 26 rests on radially disposed lugs 27 on the lower end of the sleeve 20 and is secured to that sleeve by screws 29-received in radially disposed lugs 28 on the upper end of the latter.

Cooperating with the mechanism just described is improved adjustable means for maintaining a constant pressure of the air trapped between the surface of the water in the booster tank and the top thereof.

As shown, these means include a hollow,

disposed on the opposite side of the baflle 18 from the sleeve 11 and movable in a valve casing 31, which is, in turn, carried hand hole 83 in the top of the booster casing and removably attached to the latter by bolts 34. This valve 30 is controlled by a hollow diving bell float 35, open at its bottom, which is disposed in the booster casing on the same side of the baflle-plate 18 as the sleeve 20, and is vertically adjustable on a Vertically disposed threaded rod 36, being held in any desired position on said rod by jam nuts 37. As shown, this rod 36 is itself seated in a suitable socket 38 and connected to the valve 30 at its upper end, so that the float and valve will normally assume the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein it will be noted that the valve is open and that the space at the top of the booster is connected with a vent pipe 39 which may either exhaust to the atmosphere or connected to the inlet of the compressor, as desired. Obviously, -when the water level in the booster 9 rises to a predetermined point, the float 35 will be raised from the position shown in Fig. 4 to close the outlet through the valve 30 and trap the air at the top of the booster in such a manner as to produce a back pressure acting upon the surface of the water in the booster and impelling the same out through the line 10. Further, so long as the float 35 is set in a predetermined position on the rod 36, it will maintain this pressure, opening the valve topermit excess pressure to escape whenever the water level in the booster is lowered to too great an amount by said excess pressure.

In the operation of the device described,

it is apparent that the air and water entering through the pipe 8 will be separated by the action of the umbrella top 17 and the baflle-plate 18 in such a manner that the water will flow down and under the baffleplate 18, and over to the outlet sleeve 20 to the line, while the air will be trapped above the surface of the water in such a manner as to enable it to exert a pressure thereon and thereby impel the water through the line, surging in the booster being prevented by the baflle-plate, and other interruptions of flow, such as those arising from a variation in level of the water, bein prevented by the sleeves 11, 20 and 26. I- Iere it will also be noted that through the provision of the baflle-plate 18, which is disposed between the sleeve 11 and the float 35, the valve 30 is protected from such jamming or other interference with its operation as would otherwise result from the water surging against the float. As brought out above, it will also be noted that through the action of the valve 30, a constant flow of fluid will be maintained and that, through the provision of the adjustable float 35, the water level and back pressure available may be regulated as desired by simply removing the hand hole cover 32, withdrawing the float 35, and adjusting the same longitudinally of its rod 36.

It should also be noted that in my improved construction, the sleeve 11 may be bodily withdrawn from the booster Whenever desired and that the sleeves 20 and 26 may also be bodily withdrawn from the booster. Attention is also directed to the fact that, if desired, the excess pressure\re-. 'lieved' by the valve 30 may be conducted through the vent pipe 39 to the inlet of the compressor in such a manner as to economize in the operation of the system. It will also be obvious that, if desired, suitable pressure gages 40 and 41 may be inserted in the connection between the down-pipe 5 and the receiver 3 and .on the booster 9, respectively, while suitable regulating valves 42 and 43 may, if desired, be inserted between the booster 9 and the compressor inlet, and between the receiver and the down-pipe 5, respectively, a suitable regulating valve 44 also preferably being inserted as shown between the booster and the gage 41. In view of the relatively rapid but small fluctuations in pressure in the booster, it is found desirable to choke the connection tothe gage so as to steady the needle and enable the making of an accurate reading. Also the presence of this valve permits the closing of this connection and the removal of- -the gagefor use upon another booster if fdesired, when, for reasons of economy, it may be thought desirable not to have a separate gage for each booster.

While I have in this application specifispirit, and that I intend to cover all such modifications within the scope of the ap pended claims.

What I claim as new and by Letters Patent is: 1. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, lnlet and discharge pipes therein, a vertically movable rod therein, guiding means therefor in said casing, valve on said rod guided by said valve casing, and a single float carried on said rod.

2. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, inlet and discharge pipes therein, a vertically movable rod therein, guiding means therefor in said casing, a valve casing, a vent-valve on said rod guided by said valve casing, and a single valve operating means consisting of a diving bell float carried on said rod.

3. In an air lift booster, a booster casing, inlet and discharge pipes communicating therewith, a vent valve means disposed in said casing and responsive to conditions therein for controlling said vent valve, and means for preventing lateral surging in said casing comprising a bafiie plate dlsposed therein between said first mentioned means and said inlet pipe and having its lower edge extending below the minimum liquid level therein.

4. In an air lift booster, a booster casing, inlet and discharge ipes communicating therewith, a vent va ve for said casing, means disposed in said casing and responsive to liquid variations therein for controlling a valve casing, a vent-- for said casing,

desire to secure said vent valve, and means for preventing lateral surging in said casing comprising a baifle plate disposed therein between said first mentioned means and said inlet pipe having its lower edge extending below the minimum liquid level therein and its upper edge terminating short of the top of said booster casing.

6. In an air lift booster, a booster casing,

-inlet' and discharge pipes communicating a booster casing,

therewith, a vent valvev for said casing, means in said casing for controlling sai vent valve comprising a float operatively connected to said vent valve, and means for preventing lateral surging in said casing comprising a baflie plate disposed in said casing between said inlet and said float and said discharge pipe, said baflle having its lower edge extending liquid level in said booster casing.

7. In an air lift booster, a booster-casing, an umbrella top therein, an inlet member leading to a oint adjacent said umbrella top, an outlet member having openings therein, a cooperating sleeve of greater diameter than said outlet member inclosing the openings therein spaced from the ends of said booster casing, and a baflle late disposed transversely between said irfiet and outlet members and extending below the minimum liquid level in said booster casing.

8. In an air lift booster, in combination, a booster casin inlet and discharge connections therefor, a vent valve casing carried by said valve reciprocable in said valve casing and guided thereby, and a float connected to said valve and disposed within said booster casr 9. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, inlet and discharge ipes therein, a ventvalve casing disposed on said booster casin a hollow vent-valve reciprocable in said va ve and having a lateral port thereand a oat connected to said valve and dis osed within said booster 10. In an air lift booster, in com ination, inlet and discharge connections therefor, a vent valve guided for vertical reciprocation in said casing and having a. rod, afloat on said rod, and means between said inlet connection and said float below the minimum and having open endsbooster casing, a ported vent.

for inhibiting lateral surging in said casing and jamming of said valve. 7

11. In an air lift booster, in combination, a booster casing, inlet and discharge connections therefor, a vent valve for said casing, a valve float, means for guiding said vent valve and float in. said casing, and means for adjusting one of said last mentioned elements relative to the other to control the operation of the other.

12. In an air lift booster, in combination, a booster casing, inlet and discharge connections therefor, a vent valve for said casing, a valve float, a valve rod connecing the same, and means for adjustingsaid float longitudinally thereof relative tosaid valve to vary the action of the latter.

13. In an air lift booster, in combination, a booster casing, inlet and discharge connections therefor, a vent valve carried by said booster casing, and a single diving bell float carried in said casing and operatively connected to said valve and cotiperating with 1 the latter to maintain a substantially constant liquid flow from said casing.

14. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing having a top and an aperture therein, a valve casing removably disposed over said aperture, a vent-valve movable in said valve casing, coiiperating means within said booster casing for guiding said valve, and a float movable with said valve and removable through said aperture.

15. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, a valve casing thereon, a vent-valve movable in said valve casing, cooperating valve guiding means in said casing, a single float movable with said valve to maintain a substantially constant pressure in said casing, and means for adjusting the time of operation of said valve.

16. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing having a top and an aperture therein, an apertured plate disposed over said aperture, a valve casing carried by said plate, a valve movable in said valve casing, a rod connected to saidvalve and disposed through said apertures, and a float carried by said 17. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, a discharge pipe extending into the same, a cooperating sleeve disposed around said discharge pipe and secured thereto, and means whereby said discharge pipe and sleeve may be bodily inserted in said booster casing a sleeve extending into the same and having a plurality of fluid openings therein, and a cooperating coaxially disposed sleeve of larger diameter open at the top and inclosing said openings, said last mentioned sleeve extending from a point above the bottom of said casing to a point slightly removed from the top thereof.

In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, a sleeve extending into the same and having a plurality of fluid openings therein, a cooperating sleeve of larger diameter fixed to said sleeve and inclosing said openings, said last mentioned sleeve extending from a point above the bottom of said casing to a point slightly removed from the top thereof, and means whereby said sleeves may be bodily inserted in said booster casing.

21. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, inlet and discharge pipes therein, said booster bein adapted to produce a continuous liquid 50w, a vertically movable rod therein, guiding means therefor in said casa valve casing, avent-valve on said rod gulded by sald valve casing, and a single float carried on said rod.

22. In an air-lift booster, a booster casing, inlet and discharge pipes therein, said booster being adapted to produce a continuous liquid flow, a vertically movable rod therein, guiding means therefor in said casing, a valve casing, a vent-valve on said rod guided by said valve casing, and a diving bell float carried on said rod.

23. In-an air-lift booster adapted to produce a continuous liquid flow, a booster casing, a valve casing thereon, a vent-valve movable in said valve casing, cooperating Valve uiding means in said casing, a float movabIe with said valve to maintain a substantially constant pressure in said casing, and means for adjusting the time of operation of said valve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN OLIPHAN T 

